Lady LUX

A mere area code - 541 - turned into more than just a logo for a T-shirt when partners Patrick Wurtz and Zack Nutter created 541 Threads three years ago. The Bend, Ore.-based company donates five meals to food banks for every piece of clothing sold.

Co-founded Patrick Wurtz took time out to talk to LadyLUX about his company and the way its giving back to the community.

LadyLUX: When did 541 Threads begin?

Patrick Wurtz: 541 Threads was founded in January 2011 with my partner, Zack Nutter.

LL: What does 541 stand for?

PW: Five Fed For Every Thread. 5 (for)1.

LL: What spurred the idea?

PW: The original idea was to throw our local area code on a T-shirt and call it a hobby. Bend, Oregon, where the company is based, is a very prideful place to live for locals. So wearing the area code on your T-shirt seemed like an idea that would work. We included a charity aspect right from the beginning and the idea soon took off.

LL: Are you surprised at the company's fast success?

PW: If you consider three long hard working years fast! It has been a long road from literally having a table in an alley to sell shirts to a temporary pop-up store to our own permanent retail store/headquarters.

LL: What kind of growth are you experiencing?

PW: We are starting to ship all over the country. Starting in May, each successive month was a record month and the current month kept beating the previous month. That has been the trend for the last six months. We are going to be making our biggest donation to date to the food bank for the fourth quarter of 2013.

LL: Where can our readers buy items from 541 Threads?

PW: They can buy directly from our website at 541threads.com and we have free shipping to anywhere in the U.S. We are also featured on Roozt.com.

LL: What is your best-selling women's item this fall?

PW: I'd say our version of the “candy skull” is our most popular. Since this is the month of Day of the Dead, it’s been very popular and we gave ours a mustache! A close second is the “hunger is un-bearable” crew T-shirt. Women seem to love animals.

LL: Who designs the clothing?

PW: We have an in-house designer and now part owner. His name is Conan Breitmeier. He’s super talented in art design and website design. He has been with 541 Threads for a year and a half.

LL: What's next for 541 Threads?

PW: We want to continue growth at a local level via our retail store. There are talks of opening another retail location outside of Bend, but that location is still to be determined. Our biggest focus is going to be online and continuing to reach all corners of the U.S. The biggest upgrade for online will be implementing a unique donation structure so that whoever purchases a shirt online can pick the food bank in their state (or another) if they choose. So essentially local sales in a specific state will provide meals to local people via 541 Threads donation. Locals feeding locals is what we feel will be a powerful story to tell and an opportunity to expand our mission outside our area and throughout the entire country.

LL: How do you give back to the community?

PW: For every item sold, 541 Threads provides five meals to local and national food banks. Five Fed For Every Thread. 5 (for)1. On top of just cutting a check to food banks every quarter, we provide actual food to local shelters. We recently did a Facebook promotion and were able to provide two turkeys to the homes to be used to feed the needy. We also are implementing what we are calling “Five Fed Friday” which we literally go out and buy food and give it to five people. On top of this we do two events a year in which proceeds are donated to our local food bank.

LL: What are you most proud of with 541 Threads?

PW: It is absolutely awesome walking down the street and seeing someone wearing our gear. I always go up and compliment them on their style and clothing! Some know me and some don't and think I am just some weird guy complementing them on their style. However, the best and most amazing feeling is writing the check to the food bank every quarter. The joy and appreciation that they have for the resources to continue to provide is absolutely the most fulfilling thing about what we do. It has become more than a T-shirt, hoodie or hat, 541 has become about giving back and a vehicle for change.

LL: What non-profits do you support?

PW: Our main food bank, which is local to Central Oregon, is Neighbor Impact. We have also done special edition shirts/causes to Sara's Project (breast cancer), Smiletrain (child clef pallet surgeries), the Ronald McDonald House and we have done specific custom shirts for individual locals who were in need.

LL: Is there anything I haven't asked that you'd like to include?

PW: Everything that 541 uses for garments is an extremely high quality soft fabric. We are known for our cause but we are also known for having very soft clothing. Our return customers are always raving about the quality and softness. On that note, we have never had a shirt exchanged for a refund. All returns have been exchanged for another item. The quality is something we are very proud of and stand by.

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Lifestyle / Causes